Summary

From U.S. Poet Laureate Juan Felipe Herrera, one of the most prominent Chicano poets writing today, here are poems like sweet music. Awarded the Pura Belpr#65533; Honor for this book, Herrera writes in both Spanish and English about the joy and laughter and sometimes the confusion of growing up in an upside-down, jumbled-up world--between two cultures, two homes. With a crazy maraca beat, Herrera creates poetry as rich and vibrant as mole de ol#65533; and pineapple tamales...an aroma of papaya...a clear soup with strong garlic, so you will grow, not disappear. Herrera's words are hot and peppery, and good for you. They show us what it means to laugh out loud until it feels like flying.

Juan Felipe Herrera's vibrant poems dance across these pages in a dazzling explosion of two languages, English and Spanish. Skillfully crafted, beautiful, joyful, fun, the poems are paired with whimsical black-and-white drawings by Karen Barbour. The resulting collage fills the soul and celebrates a life lived between two cultures. Laughing out loud, I fly, toward the good things, to catch Mam#65533; Lucha on the sidewalk, afterschool, waiting for the green-striped bus, on the side of the neighborhood store, next to almonds, Jos#65533;'s tiny wooden mule, the wise boy from San Diego, teeth split apart, like mine in the coppery afternoon . . .

Summary

A collection of poems in Spanish and English about childhood, place, and identity.

Author Notes

Juan Felipe Herrara was named at the U.S.next Poet Laureate by the Library of Congress. He was Poet Laureate of California from 2012-2014 and is the author of more than a dozen books of poetry.

(Bowker Author Biography)

Juan Felipe Herrara was named at the U.S.next Poet Laureate by the Library of Congress. He was Poet Laureate of California from 2012-2014 and is the author of more than a dozen books of poetry.

School Library Journal Review

Gr 6 UpÄJuan Felipe Herrera has written a series of poems in both English and Spanish celebrating his childhood. The poet sizes up life, observes what's around him, revels in its tastes and smellsÄ"I am a monkey cartoon or a chile tamal, crazy/with paisley patches, infinite flavors cinnamon &/banana ice cream, it's 3 in the afternoon...." Barbour's black-and-white drawings accompany each poem, delicately underlining its images but allowing the strong sensuality of the words to seep into readers' minds. To read the collection is to come to know the narrator who carries "the sun in my pocket, playing the gold violin/a seven-stringed branch of water & bronze...." Laughing Out Loud, I Fly joins a growing number of English/Spanish poetry collections for young people, such as Lori Carlson's Cool Salsa (Holt, 1994) and Naomi Shihab Nye's The Tree Is Older Than You Are (S & S, 1995). It offers selections from a poet's heart to savor again and again.ÄKathleen Whalin, Greenwich Country Day School, CT (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.